Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-05-13

iON JOHN GOT THE BULGE ON BILL
AND THEN AGAIN HOW HE DIDN'T.
My father was the finest watermelon
grower in the country. Mrlon culture
was his delight. particularly remem.
! Der one crop. just before the melons
began to get ripe my father called
Black Bill and me and said: IL want
you boys to understand one thing.
If one of my melons is stolen am
going to measure the tracks that find
in the patch and then measure feet,
and the owner of the feet that CORE.
spond with the tracks shall get a whip
ping that he can never forget. See
this hickory?' pointing to long and
cruel looking switch which he had
plac d above the dining room door.
SWELL, if either Of you want to catch
this switch, pitch in" Bill shook his
head and muttered that he didn't want
it; that he would rather be killed by a
steer (old Buck few weeks before had
| thrown Bill against tree and knocked
off the bark than to be cut to pieces
with such switch; and | assured my
stern parent that so far as | was con-
cernel he light rest in peace. Bill
was the on Y negro we had, and al
thongh he was compelled to go to
church every Sunday. riding on the
seat behind the buggy, and although
he sat in the buggy during services,
and without effort could hear every
word of the sermon. vet that boy with
all his careful training was inclined
to be thief.
The next day after the proclamation
was issued [ went ont and looked at
the mel N patch There, lying in the
sun, striped and tempting. lay beau
tiful melon. All, if there was any
thing that could make southern hoy
forget honor it was Il watermelon. [
trembied, for | knew | could rot pre-
vent myself from stealing it, and then
that awful switch came up before me.
An idea struck me. | went to the
house. stole into the cabin and got
Bills shoes. What an enormous foot
the rascal had! The shoes were SO
large that they would not stay on my
feet but | overcome this draw back by
stuffing them with grass. l slipped
around and entered the patch from q
locust thicket. A rain had fallen the
day before and I made decided tracks
in the level ground. got the melon,
stole back to the thicket. and, although
it was not ripe, l ate more than half
of it. Then | returned Bills shoes.
That afternoon, while Bill and were
in the yard. saw my father carefully
ff4ag HIS asFs s II sak aasaay sntfy ha ssfS a1s ss
preston and l saw that there was
something wrong
81 don't think that much measur.
ing is needed on this occasion" said he,
glancing at the stick. "Bill, where are
your shoes ?"
"In de c,bin, sah."
"Bring them here"
He brought the shoes. The old
gentleman applied the measure and
sail: "Fresh dirt on them. see."
Bills face became study. 'Doan
know how it come on dar, marster.
Amt wore 'em sense last Sunday"
Yes, that's all right, John," turn
ing to me, "fetch me that SWITCH" NV
heart smote me. but | brought the
switch. Then Bill began to dance. 1
never did see fellow get himself into
so many different shapes, and it SEEM
ed that every shape was better suited
to tie switch. Ihad to snort. couldn't
help it. kept out of Bills way as
much as possible, for he seemed to look
reproachfully at me, but he did not
accuse me of delivering him up to
the enemy, aud hal begun to per-
suade myself that Bill had stolen the
melon, when two days later came to
grief. Bill and | were again in the
yard whom my father entered the gate,
CARRYING a small stick 'John,"' said
he as he approached, "where are your
shoes ?"
''In the house, sill"
"Bring them here"
got my shoes. Great Caesar! there
was fresh soil on them. 'Come on,
come on" said the old gentleman.
handed him one shoe and dropped the
other one. "Bill," said he,a latter measur-
ing the shoe, "bring me that switch"
Bill bounded with delight and brought
the switch.
"Pap." l cried, ''please don't whip
me l amt done nuthin'-Oh-"
danced, capered and met the
switch at every turn. In my agony I
caught sight Of Bill standing at the
corner of the house and snorting like
a glandered horse. Bill kept out Of
my way, but that evening l met him
and asked:
"Bill, how did You wear my shoes?'
"How did yer war mine?"
"Put grass in 'em -
"Wall, | tuck er par er short stills
an put yer shoes on de ends O. EN-.
Reckon we'se erbout even now. Oh,
| tell yer whut's er faek, John, it don't
do ter fool wild me, case I'se one O de
'n'inted by de saints"
Bass has named his dog Wellington,
because of the animals proficiency in